Guitar picks for beginners

[petelanger]

@SplashAndrew in the beginning you will be tempted to go with thin picks like 0.46 mm or 0.71 mm because they feel easier to handle and don’t “catch” on the strings as much. I think that’s fine very early on as you are learning basic mechanics of strumming but don’t stay with the thin ones long. Within a few months you should start training yourself to use a thicker one.

As your strumming improves you just touch the strings with the very tips without digging in which is the proper technique you are typically looking for. I’m using a 0.96 mm pick now but sometimes I’ll go to a 1.2 mm.

The thinner picks are rather noisy (think “playing cards on a bicycle wheel”) so not only do you want to improve your strumming technique, you also want a purer sound without noise from a vibrating pick.

I’m a fairly new player, I’m sure some more experienced players will chime in. There are also different shaped picks and some with alternate gripping features. I’ve been sticking with the traditional “rounded pie shape” and have gotten used to it.

[SplashAndrew]

Thanks @petelanger this is very helpful. I am currently on a Fender thin which I believe is 0.08″ thick just to get comfortable with picking and strumming. As my confidnece improves, I’ll work over to a medium

[petelanger]

I think a Fender thin would be 0.018″, or 0.46 mm.

0.08 is more than 2mm which is like a popsicle stick, lol!

[SplashAndrew]

Sorry, yes, 0.018″

[jumpinjeff]

Hi @SplashAndrew : welcome. Here is my experiece. The pick itself is only 1% of proper picking and initially it may be 0%. The easiest pick I use is a Jim Dunlop nylon .60mm. It producess the least amount of volume of all my picks. I used it when working new strum patterns with increasing speeds. It was a go to training pick for strumming. For flat picking I figured out how to balance the pick with a Dunlop Ultex 2.0. It remains a go to for volume and control when flat picking. I struggled mightily at first with slipping and spinning until I learned how it balances on the fingers. When stumming I found as I got more comfortable with the new strum patterns, I wanted more control and more volume. That is when I move to the thicker pick some of them are 2.0mm. Control cames after accuracy and precision were developed: time in the saddle. That was what I learned. I am super pumped by the results.

[SplashAndrew]

Thanks @jumpinjeff , I’ll have a look at those Dunlops. I only bought Fender picks to be consistent with my guitar

[Tom R]

Yes…Dunlop Medioums are a great pick…I also add stick on circles to each side to keep it in my fingers…These are small round rubber circles with a cross hatch imprinted on them that stick to picks to keep them in your fingers. With some of the flat pick stuff I tried a thumbpick – tony has an old youtube video he did on thumb picks…They help on some of the flat pickin stuff.

[Skyman911]

Also, different pick materials make a lot of difference as well. Not only in sound, but feel. There is Nylon, Tortex, Ultex, Celluloid, Acrylic, Metal and so on. Each material has different qualities depending on the thickness used. Thicker picks tend to deliver a deeper, louder tone. Thinner picks deliver less volume, less control, however easier to learn with in my opinion. Guitar is a very personal experience. Experiment to try to find what works for you. Most stores sell a variety pack of picks. A lot of folks like the Dunlop Primetone picks. I’m personally not a fan. I’ve personally settled on Blue Chip picks. 1.0mm, .89mm. These seem to be the only picks that don’t spin or move in my hand like other picks. Seems to deliver nice tone as well.